Category Archives: Food

One of the ways to cool off in the summer heat is to enjoy a frozen dessert. It could be anything from a tall frozen latte in a glass or a bowl of ice cream with all the toppings. Another idea is an ice box cake. The concept is simple, and you can make the cake with any kind of ingredient that you like.

The icebox cake is one that doesn’t require any baking and that is made with wafers that are hidden away between layers of whipped cream and other items, like fresh strawberries or chocolate ice cream. Once the layers are made, you chill the cake overnight so that it’s set when you cut into the dessert. Start your morning right with a caramel latte cake that is full of chocolate slivers, caramel drizzle on top and a base of latte cream that between flaky vanilla wafers. Spread whipped cream on the top before adding the caramel for a cake that tastes like it came from a glass of coffee.

Enjoy a sweet treat with a cookie butter and apricot cake. It has cheesecake for the layers with wafers that have a buttery flavor along with a hint of cinnamon. Apricot preserves are spread on the wafers or shortbread cookies before adding the cheesecake. Crush shortbread cookies to put on top of the cake before adding lines of the preserves. Another idea with the icebox cake is to put it in a small glass jar. Layer all of the ingredients like you would with a larger cake but in a smaller setting. This idea makes the cake easier to enjoy and is ideal for a summer cookout.

Coffee continues to be one of America’s favorite beverages. A hot cup of joe can be just the thing to wake up to early in the morning. Given this popularity, it’s hardly surprising that java retailers everywhere are finding happy new markets for their products. One chain in particular has been seeing vast growth in recent years. Blue Bottle is one of San Francisco’s most adored coffee shops. They offer specially prepared coffee varieties that are lovingly handmade from beans across the world. With their help, customers can discover an entire new world that is all about enjoying this beverage. Native San Franciscans have been coming here for a quick stop of iced coffee on a hot day or a delicious mug of steaming coffee when it gets cold outside.

New Potential Markets

With their devotion to quality beans, it’s no wonder that the chain has become quite popular and rapidly carved out a niche in the San Francisco area. In an effort to bring their product to other places, those at Blue Bottle have been busy. Their aim is to expand into new markets in other parts of the United States. They have opened a sixteen million dollar brewery in Brooklyn, one of the hottest culinary markets in the world right now. New Yorkers are known for their love of coffee and their appreciation of the finer things in life so it’s no surprise this is where those at Blue Bottle hope to expand even more.

Several New Locations

Coffee lovers across the country can now look forward to the opportunity to sample the Blue Bottle experience. The company plans to open shops in the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan as well as in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Another market that will see a Blue Bottle location is Boston as well as the nation’s capital and Miami. This will bring the number of Blue Bottle locations to more than three dozen across the U.S.

Anthony Bourdain burst onto the culinary scene in the United States over a decade ago. His first book, Kitchen Confidential, was all about his life as a cook in some of the best restaurants in the country. Since then, Bourdain has become a culinary icon for many. People know him from his many numerous appearances on television where his wry humor adds a sense of fun to any show. They also know him from his travel shows. Here, he takes viewers all over to world to regions they might not have heard about before. As a food expert and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he has his hands on the pulse of the world food scene. With millions of followers, he can provide insights that are often startling and yet quite accurate about what Americans are thinking about when it comes to what’s on their plate.

The Next Big Thing

In his opinion, the next big thing in food for Americans is Filipino food. The Philippines are a series of islands in Asia. Here, culinary influences include Spanish, French, indigenous cuisines and American immigration. The net result is a wide mixture of flavors that are a hallmark of the dishes of this area. Bourdain believes that Americans are ready for this cuisine right now. In his opinion, the American thought about flavor profiles have shifted in the past. While many Americans still love food with a lot of sweetness to it, they are also open to other possibilities such as foods with more of a sour overtone. As he points out, many Filipino dishes rely on sour elements to create food that is complex and interesting

Many Restaurants on the Scene

Bourdain has looked closely at the eating scene in American. He knows what Americans like because he’s constantly on the road traveling to new places. He thinks Filipino food will become trendy as evinced by the opening of several recent Filipino restaurants.

Many Americans try to be cautious about what they eat. However, their efforts are often in vain because the food manufacturers engage in deceptive marketing practices. It is estimated that the food industry loses $10 to $15 billion per year because of food substitutions and fake labeling. It is estimated that food fraud is a problem that affects 10 percent of all food products that are commercially-sold.

Food fraud is defined as intentionally adding or misrepresenting food and its ingredients. Making false statements about food is also considered fraud. Food companies engage in deceptive marketing practices so that they can make more money.

There are a number of ways that food companies can engage in deceptive practices. For example, they can use a low-value product and market it as a high-quality product. They may also add unsafe ingredients to the food and still label the product as organic and non-GMO. Additionally, food companies may claim that their product has many health benefits, and this is false.

The good news is that most cases of food fraud do not let to health issues. People usually just get ripped off. However, there are ways that food fraud can be harmful. For example, a product’s label says that it does not have any nuts, but it does. This can create problems for people who have food allergies.

There are some things that you can do to avoid food fraud. You can tell that a product is fake by paying attention to the flavor and consistency of it. You also want to make sure that you buy products from reputable places. Furthermore, if you think that something is wrong, then you have the right to report it to the brand owner and retailer.

It is estimated that 10 percent of people get the recommended 4.5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. However, the American Heart Association encourages people to strive to meet this recommendation. Fruits and vegetables can drastically improve one’s health.

The American Heart Association has started a Healthy for Good Campaign. Annessa Chumbley is the spokesperson for the American Heart Association. She has stated that the purpose of this organization is to encourage people to make small steps today in order to start improving their health. This campaign will also teach people how to make better versions of their favorite meals.

Only 1 percent of people in America are in ideal cardiovascular health based on the American Heart Association’s standards. Poor diet is one of the factors that contributes to poor heart health. Poor diet can also contribute to premature death. Additionally, 66 percent of Americans are overweight, which is another health risk.

Dietary habits can contribute to high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of developing these conditions. The American Heart Association recommends that people get 2.5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits. The average person only consumes 1 to 1.5 servings of each per day. It is estimated that 30,000 lives could be saved if people would get 1 to 1.5 additional servings per day.

Regardless of how old you are, it is never too late to start your health journey. Not only will people be taught how to make healthy choices during the Healthy for Good Campaign, but they will also be shown how they can make creative and healthy snacks.

The summer season is often best spent outside with family and friends. If you want to throw a party instead of having a typical cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs, then consider a luau. The first thing that you want to do is to set the scene for the event. Wicker furniture with pillows in bright colors and tropical flowers in light green vases or hollowed pineapples work well for the event.

When you begin planning the menu, you want to think about eating with ease. Any kind of kabob is an idea that you might want to consider. Going with the luau theme, consider chicken with peanut sauce over a bed of cabbage or lettuce. Grilled shrimp kabobs are also an idea, adding chunks of pineapple or watermelon as well. If you want to offer hamburgers, then make sliders as they are easier to prepare and can be customized a bit easier than larger sandwiches. Make a buffet of items that guests can enjoy, such as Hawaiian rolls, slices of yellow onions, tomatoes slices of cucumber. An idea would be to make the sliders with pork instead of beef to blend with the luau theme.

Bamboo plates with utensils that are made of bamboo make for a lovely table setting. You can often find these items at a party supply store. They are usually disposable as well, making the cleanup of the luau a cinch. Large bamboo leaves or other tropical leaves would create a beautiful setting on the table with tropical flowers as centerpieces. Before guests enjoy the luau, set up a beverage station with fruit punch or a few alcoholic drinks made with rum.

Showcase your patriotism with a few red, white and blue recipes that are easy and fun to make. You can take a dish to a cookout for the 4th of July or prepare a meal or two for your family to enjoy at home. If you want to prepare something with sustenance, then consider a salad with roasted red peppers, purple potatoes, small pieces of mozzarella and small gold potatoes. It will look like a firework of flavor on the plate.

When you make desserts for the fall and winter seasons, you might make a cake roll. Most rolls are made with pumpkin or chocolate. You can change the dynamics by making a vanilla cake, separating the batter so that you can make one red cake and one that is blue. Roll the two together, coating with white icing, so that the cake resembles a flag when it’s cut. Get the day started healthy with a fruit smoothie in patriotic layers. Freeze the fruit juice before making the smoothie so that it will hold its form better in the glass. Blueberries, strawberries, and cream work best when making the drink. Another way to start the morning with a delicious meal is to make French toast with blueberries and strawberries on top. You could also make a French toast casserole with layers of fruits.

Make a red, white and blue salad for a refreshing side dish using diced watermelon and blueberries. This is a delightful dish for a picnic or if you need to serve a large number of people. Top the salad with slivers of lime and toasted coconut. Ginger can add a spark to the salad, combining well with the fireworks for the 4th of July.

Whether it’s for the 4th of July holiday or you simply enjoy the colors red, white and blue, there are quite a few patriotic recipes that you can try for special events or serve for a family dinner. A berry trifle is a sweet treat for any cookout or if you want to enjoy the delicious dish with only a few close friends and family members. Use fresh strawberries and blueberries when making the layers. You’ll also use whipped cream and crumbled pieces of angel food cake to make what looks like an American flag in a large bowl.

Drinking can be fun for the 4th of July holiday when you make fireworks daiquiris. Frozen strawberries are used as a base for the drink with blue curacao liqueur and coconut sorbet for the other layers. Add a bit of white rum at the top for a finish that is full of sparks. Create small pies so that everyone can enjoy the kind of fruit they like by making a base of a buttery pastry with either canned or fresh red and blue fruits along with a dollop of whipped cream. Stay healthy over the summer with fruit cups that are made with fresh strawberry slices, blueberries, and blackberries. The dish can be topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Get the kids involved in the holiday fun by letting them help with baking star cookies. The inside of each cookie is hollow with red, white and blue sprinkles baked in the dough. These are a delicious treat for a summer bake sale or if you want to make something sweet for someone special, such as a veteran or a grandparent.

Many kids especially those living in areas where there is little or no access to nutritious food tend to be impoverished and suffer from stunted growth. The World Health Organization’s report shows that at least 155 million kids under five years are stunted. Most of these kids live in the low and middle-income countries. A study conducted in Ecuador shows that an egg a day could help such kids grow bigger and taller, regardless of whether it is scrambled, boiled, or fried.

In the study, infants were randomly picked, where a small group was to eat an egg daily, and the other set apart as the control group that was not to consume any. Researchers made efforts of visiting the families of the selected group each week to ensure the schedule was followed, and also followed up on any side effects. By the end of the study, the group that consumed the eggs was less likely to have stunted growth by up to 47 percent. The study brings out a solution to malnutrition. Allergic reactions were also monitored, and no incidences were reported.

Lead researcher Ms. Lanonotti was surprised at just how effective the egg intervention was, citing that eggs would serve as a great solution for low-income families vulnerable to nutritional deficiency given that they are easily accessible and affordable. She went ahead to say that eggs are a perfect choice for kids as they come with a combination of nutrients. However, to prevent infections from affecting kids, the eggs must be cooked well.

For the first six months, WHO recommends that mothers breastfeed their infants exclusively for good health, optimal growth, and development. After this period, they should be engaged in a nutritious diet and continue breastfeeding for up to two years or more. Although eggs will play a great role in their menu, parents are advised to include a variety of foods in the diet.

Recent research is leading health professionals to proclaim that yogurt may be good for your bones. Dairy has been linked to bone health for decades, but the research is uncovering that the best source of dairy for bone health is actually yogurt. Yogurt eaters have even been reported to perform better when given physical fitness tests.

Eamon J. Laird, a researcher at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, spoke with The New York Times about the apparent benefits of yogurt. Yogurt is a great source of Vitamin D, calcium, B vitamins, proteins, and probiotics.

In Ireland, lead author Laird and colleagues, tracked the diet of 4,130 Irish adults 60 and older. The team used advanced technology like X-rays and M.R.I. to examine each individuals physical abilities and bone health. It was determined that daily yogurt consumption increased bone mineral density by 3 to 4 percent.

Yogurt consumption drastically reduced the risk of osteoporosis in men with a 52% decrease. Yogurt consumption also significantly decreased the risk of osteoporosis in women with a 39% decrease. Both of these findings were based on the requirement that the individual was consuming yogurt as a part of their daily diet.

Lairds research was observational so a direct correlation between yogurt consumption and increased health cannot be declared. However, a strong association exists between the two, suggesting that yogurt consumption is beneficial for physical health.

An important detail to note is that in Laird’s research, other dairy products did not produce the same effects as yogurt. Given the complexity of the nutrients yogurt has to offer, individuals may be benefiting more from this particular dairy product because they are receiving so many nutrients in one compact dish.

Health professionals, like Laird, also note that it is important to pay attention to sugar content in your favorite yogurt. Many yogurts are quite high in sugar, so if you are consuming this food to reap its health benefits then you’ll want to avoid yogurt with high sugar content.